Joy to the World! He is Risen!

 

I know we don't usually say Joy to the World on Resurrection Sunday, but that is truly when the joy happened!  My favorite song for this morning is "Easter Song" written by Annie Herring and recorded with her brother and sister in the group Second Chapter of Acts (listen here).  Keith Green does a fabulous job with it, too, you can hear his version here. Turn up the volume and sing along!

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that we can be born again
Hear the bells ringing, they're singing
Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah!

The End of an Era

Les and I spent last week in Hawaii.  This time we cleared out everything we had on the island due to major changes with Les' employer.  In January the company was acquired, so Les has a new employer.  It has been great for him so far - he's busier than ever, but really enjoying his work.  

 

 

One of the policies the new company implemented was they would no longer pay for parking at the Hawaii office for employees that aren't in the office at least three days a week.  That meant we needed to get our car out.

Prior to COVID, we spent about 25-30% of our time in Hawaii.  That obviously dropped off during 2020 and 2021.  We thought it would pick up again, but we only made one trip to the island in 2022 and only one trip in 2023.  During each of those trips, we have thinned down the things we had over there, but we still had a lot!

The thought of trying to sell our car via Craigslist was not at all appealing.  We decided we would donate it to charity.  I spent the first couple days of our trip calling various organizations with little success.  The numbers were national call centers and they couldn't get a pickup scheduled in just a few days time.  I finally had success with Wheels for Wishes (part of the Make a Wish Foundation.)  But at Bible study on Tuesday night, as Les was giving Pastor McGriffin an update on our situation, he told us of a young man who had recently started coming to church and was in need of a car.  We were happy to give it to him instead and set up a time for Thursday evening.

 

I took some things to Goodwill while I still had the car, but by the end of the week we were down to what would fit in our suitcases.  One bag was about 38 pounds, but the other squeaked under the 50 pound limit at 49.7!

One of the pairs of shoes that I hadn't planned to bring home were sandals I had been wearing to church for more than a decade.  When I put them on Tuesday night, they felt "off."  Sitting in Bible study, I noticed the reason...

It wasn't all work while we were there - I enjoyed some great running and Les was able to get in a few bike rides.  We enjoyed some amazing food and especially enjoyed Bible study on Tuesday night.  We will be back from time to time, but not for the long trips like in the past or as frequently.  Hawaii will always have a part of our hearts.

Repost In Honor of Pi Day

 Happy Pi day!

Today is Pi day.  In case you aren't sure what that is, from Pi Day.org:

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi Day is an annual opportunity for math enthusiasts to recite the infinite digits of Pi, talk to their friends about math, and to eat pie.

In honor of Pi Day, I thought I'd re-post Les' theory of the speed of life.  I originally wrote about it in 2009 and said, "I was thinking the other morning about how quickly this year is moving along. Then it dawned on me - it has been a decade since Y2K! That seems like it happened a few years ago, not a decade!"  It's now been TWO decades since Y2K!  High school seniors weren't even born then.

When you are 2 years old, one year seems like a long time because it is one half of your life, one half of your experiences.

When you are 4 years old, one year still seems long because it is one fourth of your life.

When you are 16 years old, a year can move a little faster seeing how it is only one sixteenth of your life.

By the time you're 50, well time really does fly! A year is a small portion of your life - so in light of your life experiences, it really is shorter! (I'm speaking from experience here!)

James 4:14 puts it this way "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."  I want to make every slice of life count, no matter how quickly it comes.

I think I'll have a piece of pie, too. Remember: We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Repost: The Woman at the Well

My Bible reading included John chapter 4 this morning.  I've always loved the story of the woman at the well.  The week before I studied her, I had studied Dinah, the daughter of Jacob.  These two women will always be connected in my mind because their stories take place in the same location.

Last week's woman had a sad ending, this week's is just the opposite.  I love the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, she's proof of God's grace and His power to change a life.  The commentaries on this story were so good!  I had a difficult time picking and choosing what to share, so here I am on Saturday afternoon trying to get this week's study typed!

Verses:  John 4:4-42

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
We know nothing of her family except "thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband" (John 4:18.)  We'll talk about those husbands later, but an important thing to understand is who the Samaritans were.  According to Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible, the Samaritans were:

This people was formerly composed of a few of the ten tribes and a mixture of foreigners. When the ten tribes were carried away into captivity to Babylon, the King of Assyria sent people from Cutha, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to inhabit their country.  The grounds of difference between the two nations were the following:

1. The Jews, after their return from Babylon, set about rebuilding their temple. The Samaritans offered to aid them. The Jews, however, perceiving that it was not from a love of true religion, but that they might obtain a part of the favors granted to the Jews by Cyrus, rejected their offer. The consequence was, that a stare of long and bitter animosity arose between them and the Jews.

2. While Nehemiah was engaged in building the walls of Jerusalem, the Samaritans used every art to thwart him in his undertaking.

3. The Samaritans at length obtained leave of the Persian monarch to build a temple for themselves. This was erected on “Mount Gerizim,” and they strenuously contended that that was the place designated by Moses as the place where the nation should worship. Sanballat, the leader of the Samaritans, constituted his son-in-law, Manasses, high priest. The religion of the Samaritans thus became perpetuated, and an irreconcilable hatred arose between them and the Jews.

4. Afterward Samaria became a place of resort for all the outlaws of Judea. They received willingly all the Jewish criminals and refugees from justice. The violators of the Jewish laws, and those who had been excommunicated, betook themselves for safety to Samaria, and greatly increased their numbers and the hatred which subsisted between the two nations. 

5. The Samaritans received only the five books of Moses, and rejected the writings of the prophets and all the Jewish traditions. From these causes arose an irreconcilable difference between them, so that the Jews regarded them as the worst of the human race, and had no dealings with them.

One final important note is the Samaritans acknowledged the five books of Moses, so they were also expecting the coming of the Messiah.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
Jesus made a special stop just for this woman.  John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible said, "Her coming was not by chance, but by the providence of God, and agreeably to his purpose, who orders all things according to the counsel of his will; and it is an amazing instance of grace, that a woman, a Samaritan woman, a lewd and infamous one, should be a chosen vessel of salvation, should be the object of divine favour, and be effectually called by the grace of God; when so many wise, learned, and religious men in Judea, were passed by; and not only so, but she was the happy means of conveying the knowledge of the Saviour to many of her neighbours: she came, indeed."

When Jesus asked for a drink, she responded with a question, "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?"  Some commentaries said she scoffed or was angry, others said she was curious or surprised.  I've always thought it was surprise or curiosity that had her questioning.  Though her lifestyle was sinful, she did not seem to be proud of it.

Synopsis of the Old and New Testaments by John Nelson Darby said, "The life of this woman was shameful; but she was ashamed of it; at the least her position had isolated her, by separating her from the crowd that forgets itself in the tumult of social life. And there is no inward grief like an isolated heart; but Christ and grace more than meets it.  What a meeting! And God who had stooped so low as to be dependent on her for a little water to quench His thirst!"

Such a conversation they had.  Jesus knew everything about her and she had no idea to Whom she was speaking.  All she could think about was actual water.  If she could have that water, she wouldn't have to come back to the well each day.  "Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.  The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly."  Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible said, "A severe reproof of her present state of life: He whom thou now hast is not thy husband. Either she was never married to him at all, or he had some other wife, or, which is most probable, her former husband or husbands were living: so that, in short, she lived in adultery. Yet observe how mildly Christ tells her of it; he doth not call her strumpet, but tells her, He with whom thou livest is not thy husband: and then leaves it to her own conscience to say the rest."  Her response was so simple, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet." 

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

I can think of no greater example of someone resetting - an encounter with Jesus changed this woman from an adulteress to an evangelist!  

"A glorious revelation of Christ acts upon the soul where it is, and brings the Person of Jesus into connection with the need already felt. "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh; and when he is come, he will tell us all things." Small as her intelligence might be, and unable as she was to understand what Jesus had told her, His love meets her where she can receive blessing and life; and He replies, "I, that speak unto thee, am he." The work was done: the Lord was received. A poor Samaritan sinner receives the Messiah of Israel, whom the priests and the Pharisees had rejected from among the people. The moral effect upon the woman is evident. She forgets her waterpot, her toil, her circumstances. She is engrossed by this new object that is revealed to her soul — by Christ; so engrossed that, without thinking, she becomes a preacher; that is, she proclaims the Lord in the fulness of her heart and with perfect simplicity. He had told her all that she had ever done. She does not think at that moment of what it was. Jesus had told it her; and the thought of Jesus takes away the bitterness of the sin. The sense of His goodness removes the guile of heart that seeks to conceal its sin. In a word, her heart is entirely filled with Christ Himself. Many believed in Him through her declaration — "He has told me all that ever I did"; many more, when they had heard Him. His own word carried with it a stronger conviction, as more immediately connected with His Person." (John Nelson Darby)

We read of a revival in Samaria in Acts chapter 8.  Would Philip been effective there if Jesus hadn't been there first?  The people "with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake," and "there was great joy in that city."  Men and women were baptized and received the Holy Ghost.  It didn't stop with a single city but the gospel was preached in many villages.  I believe this unnamed woman was one of them!

Friday Foodie

A few months ago, Les and I went out for pizza.  Afterwards we wanted something sweet.  In the same strip mall is a Smart and Final.  We walked in and browsed their bakery section.  It was surprisingly good!  There was a quite a variety of cakes, cookies, and pies.  What caught both of our eyes was what they called Seven Layer Bars.  I remember my Mom making this and calling them Magic Cookie Bars.  We bought a small pack and they were just as good as I remembered.

This weekend we are celebrating the pastoral anniversary of the DeAros in Santa Clarita.  The service will be at our church tomorrow with a meal to follow.  I was asked to bring a dessert and decided I needed to make these bars.  My Google search found "Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars" on the Eagle Brand website.  I feel sure this is the recipe Mom used!

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (12 graham crackers)

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup (6 oz.) butterscotch-flavored chips
1 cup (6 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions 

HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.

GRIND graham crackers using a food processor or blender (or place in a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin.)   In the blender it took about 60 seconds.

COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly into bottom of prepared pan. 

 

POUR sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. 

 

LAYER evenly with remaining ingredients; press down firmly with fork.  (I mixed the dry ingredients together, then scooped out a cup at a time to pour on top of the sweet condensed milk.)

 

 

BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. Cut into bars or diamonds.

For perfectly cut cookie bars, line entire pan with foil, extending foil over edge of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, lift up by edges of foil to remove from pan. Cut into individual bars.  This made about two dozen bars.  I'm suppose to take a dozen to church, so we get to enjoy some here at home, too!

 

These are very easy to make and SO good!

Friday Trail Adventure

 

It was a beautiful morning for a trail run!  We've received quite a bit of rain and more is coming this weekend. so the trail is a bit muddy.

Trail humor... This did make me wonder who carried this paper and fork 3.5 miles so they could attach it to this sign....

 

A little over 7.5 miles and I had the trail entirely to myself until I was about a half a mile from the trail head.

Repost: Abide, Then Ask

My Bible reading includes a single verse to read for a week.  This week's verse is John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  I wrote about this on March 10, 2010.  The story that I didn't share was that Les had lost his job on March 1, 2010.  We were in the midst of asking, but God reminded me to abide.

My devotional for March 8th was this:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7).

Ask what we will? And it will be done unto us? What a wonder! We can write the check, and God will sign it. We cleave to the promise, for we all want our wishes granted.
Thumbing madly through life's catalog, we find a bevy of items that suit our fancy, fill in the order blank, and - But, God, where is Your signature? You said...
Did we forget something? Oh, yes - the first part of the verse. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you..." He'll provide if I'll abide.

Another translation of that verse says, "If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours." Oh... what He says, His words. And not just hearing, but living what He says.

We're all quick to line up for the blessings, but where are we when it's time to live what He says? God is merciful to the sinner who cries, "Lord, if you'll get me out of this jam, I'll serve you." But He certainly doesn't have to be. That's the cart before the horse.

We are the creation, the inferior one. We can't make demands, we can't even ask for anything without first being in obedience to His word. Our provision is predicated upon our abiding.

The Greek definition of abide is - to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for).

Need healing? Abide.
Need a job? Abide.
Looking for direction? Abide.
Need deliverance? Abide.
Been living without joy lately? Abide.
Guilt holding you back? Abide.
Worry keeping you up at night? Abide.

Psalm 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

Repost: The Ear, The Thumb, and the Big Toe

My Bible reading this morning included Exodus chapter 29.  Verses 19 and 20 reminded me of a lesson that Pastor McGriffin taught in Hawaii a few years ago.  I remembered that it was good, but after re-reading my original post, it was excellent!  Here is it again:

This is a post I've been wanting to write for a month!  On our last trip to Hawaii we were able to attend two Tuesday night Bible studies at First Church.  Pastor McGriffin did a two part series called, "The Ear, the Thumb, and the Big Toe."  The key verses were Exodus 29:19-20, "And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about." I had never heard a lesson or message on these verses, so I was curious to see where he would take us. 

Throughout the Bible, being covered by blood is essential.  When Adam and Eve first sinned, God slew an animal to make coats for them.  Repeatedly we see the blood being used as a covering, until the ultimate blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Our lives need to be covered by His blood and these three areas are key:

The Ear

Hebrews 2:1 says, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."  Our hearing needs a blood covering.  There are many voices in the world that can lead us astray.  What we hear affects our actions.  Hearing God's Word will bring our thinking back in line.

The Thumb

Psalm 18:34 says, "He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."  Most animals were not created with opposable thumbs. Mankind and the great apes are rare in this ability.  The thumb allows our hands to do three things: grasp, push, and pull.  When our thumb is covered by the Blood, we have a better grasp on the issues of life, we can push away those things that are harmful to us, and we can pull towards us the things that are beneficial.  2 Corinthians 10:4 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;"

The Big Toe

Proverbs 2:20 says, "That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous." When someone loses their big toe they have a difficult time walking.  Our big toe helps us balance and walk in the right path.  When our balance is off, we stumble and veer from the path of righteousness.

I thought this was such a thought provoking lesson!  Leviticus 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."  The things God put into place in the Bible were never "just because."  He always had a reason for what He did. 

Potiphar's Wife ~ Woman of the Week

As I already mentioned, I have not studied Potiphar's wife yet.  I'm actually kind of surprise that I hadn't!  I did write about Joseph and how great it is that he didn't seek revenge once he was in power.  (You can read that post here.)

Verses: Genesis 39

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

We know very little about Potiphar's wife.  The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system.  We don't know if they had any children.

 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats?  How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

The first few verses of Genesis 39 talk about Joseph's role in the household.  His master trusted him completely.  Verse seven introduces Potiphar's wife, "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me."

 

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary says, "Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people - in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar’s wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest. Potiphar’s wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible points out that "Her sin began in the eye."  I find that interesting since it was when Eve "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise" that caused her to eat the forbidden fruit.  We must be very careful with our eyes.

Genesis 39:10 says, "And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her."  John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Continually, incessantly, hoping in time to prevail upon him to comply with her desires; so that the temptation, as it was strong, and very ensnaring, it was urgent, and frequent, and pressed with great importunity; which required the more grace and spiritual strength to resist."

We don't know how long "day by day" lasted, but she was persistent.  She finally found her perfect opportunity on a day when none of the men of the house were there.  Maybe she thought Joseph was just pretending when he resisted, but with no witnesses, this was her opportunity.  But verse 12 says, "And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

There was never a greater example of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," than Potiphar's wife.  She saw Joseph run away and now she had his garment in her hand.  He did not run away naked, but his outer garment was stripped off.

Verse 14 says "she called unto the men of her house."  I have to wonder, when Joseph came in they weren't there, but she was able to call them very quickly.  Did she have this planned?

 

Not only did she lie about Joseph, she also blamed her husband, "saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us."  Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "Potiphar’s wife affects to throw great blame on her husband, whom we may reasonably suppose she did not greatly love. He hath brought in - he hath raised this person to all his dignity and eminence, to give him the greater opportunity to mock us."

More from Matthew Henry, "What an improbable story she tells, producing his garment as an evidence that he had offered violence to her, which was a plain indication that she had offered violence to him.  No marvel that she who had impudence enough to say, Lie with me, had front enough to say, “He would have lien with me.” Had the lie been told to conceal her own crime it would have been bad enough, yet, in some degree, excusable; but it was told to be revenged upon his virtue, a most malicious lie. And yet, she manages it so as to incense her husband against him, reflecting upon him for bringing this Hebrew servant among them, perhaps at first against her mind, because he was a Hebrew.  As this matter was represented, one would have thought chaste Joseph a very bad man and his wanton mistress a virtuous woman."

We don't read anything else about Potiphar or his wife.  Just like other wicked people in the Bible, God took their evil deeds and turned it into good.  We will never know if they stood on the sidelines while Joseph was elevated to number two in the kingdom.

I want to end this post on a positive note.  Joseph is an excellent example of forgiveness. I wrote about forgiveness here. "The Purpose of the Church," was a fabulous message we heard in Hawaii.  These bullet points about liberation are so good.  In light of Joseph's life, he truly did escape the prison of unforgiveness.

 

Liberation
There are two things that lock you in prison that you cannot escape - a lie and unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness causes chaos and health issues.
Forgiveness is not an option.  Your best life cannot happen if you won't release the junk you hold on to.
Revenge means that you become God.  It never works.
Baptism frees us from our past.  God forgives us, but He can't forgive FOR us.
True forgiveness cannot happen unless you give up all control and hope for revenge.

(Somewhat) Wordless Wednesday

Les has been at a work conference in Miami this week (he comes home tonight - yay!)  I took a picture of my coffee mug this morning to send to him:

I was trying to figure out why it was so pink.  Then I looked out the window...

God still paints the best skies!

Woman of the Week ~ Potiphar's Wife

I'm reading the story of Joseph's life in Genesis and realized I have never studied Potiphar's wife.  I think it's time.

 

Verses: Genesis 39

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Friday Trail Run

 

We have rain in the forecast starting late tonight and going through Monday morning.  I decided I needed to a get a longer run in today.  Coyotes were my alarm clock - it sounded like an entire pack was on the hill behind our house at about 5:15.  I stayed in bed a little while, but was up and driving to the trail head by 6:15.

 

I had the trail mostly to myself.  One mountain biker passed me on the way up and I saw him again when he was coming down while I was still going up. I turned around at the four mile mark after taking the pictures in this post.

 

I didn't see anyone else until my last couple of miles.  Two women were running up the trail and one guy was walking up the final ramp at the trail head.

 

It was a peaceful morning and I enjoyed it immensely!

The Northridge Earthquake ~ 30 Years Ago

I didn't mean to disappear for almost two weeks!  I got really sick last week.  I saw an article yesterday about the 30th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake.  That is still the biggest earthquake I've ever felt.  I wrote about it in 2010 after the massive Haiti earthquake and thought I'd re-post it here today: 

With a jolt we were awakened that morning. Sleeping on the third level of our townhouse it seemed someone had taken our little place and was violently shaking it. An earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude struck the Southland at 4:31 that Monday morning. Along with the shaking there was the noise - dishes falling out of cupboards, pictures falling off walls, drawers flying out of dressers, the crack of our kitchen window as it broke from the force.


It was still dark when we hurriedly dressed and made our way outside looking for safety. The normal LA sky glow was gone. Power was out and the freeway was empty. The same freeway that would be closed for more than a month due to extensive damage.


We spent the day in numbness. Shock kept the tears at bay as we viewed cracks in nearly every wall. Power and water were both off. We purchased plywood to cover our kitchen window and began the process of sweeping up glass and figuring out what was salvageable.


As night fell, we were unsure of the stability of our home and chose to move our van to the street and sleep there. Still no electricity. It would be many weeks before I slept peacefully as aftershocks were a constant reminder. One large crack in our bedroom seemed to haunt me.


I remember later that day standing on the sidewalk talking to Les' boss.  His dog started getting very agitated just before we experienced a large aftershock.  It was so big, our car BOUNCED in the street!  

 

My Bible reading today included Proverbs chapter 18.  I'm very thankful for verse 10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

Repost: His Word Is Enough

My Bible reading today included Matthew chapter 8.  There are multiple examples in this chapter of Jesus performing miracles by touching someone, while other times He just spoke.  I wrote about this in February of 2019 and decided to repost it today:

Along with studying women of the Bible, I am reading one chapter in the Bible each day.  I read Proverbs with its 31 chapters in January.  This month I'm reading Matthew which has 28 chapters.

While reading Matthew chapter 8 on Friday, I was amazed at the many times Jesus healed or delivered with just His Word.  He touched people, but He also just spoke.

Verse 3 He touched a leper and healed him
Verse 13 He spoke the word to the Centurion and his servant was healed.
Verse 15 He touched Peter's mother-in-law and healed her.
Verse 16 He cast out spirits with His word.
Verse 26 He rebuked the winds and sea and there was a great calm.
Verse 32 He spoke the word and evil spirits came out of two men.

It continues in chapter 9:
Verse 2 He spoke to the one sick of palsy and he arose.
Verse 20 The woman with the issue of blood touched Him and in verse 22 Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole.
Verse 25 He took Jairus' daughter by the hand and she arose
Verse 29 He touched the eyes of two blind men and their eyes were opened

I've been thinking on this and wondering why Jesus chose to touch some and not others.  I think it's a beautiful example of what happens in our lives today.  Sometimes we can feel His presence so strongly.  It's a beautiful, almost indescribable feeling.  It mends broken places in us.  But there are other times we can't feel a thing.  We may see others being touched, but our own spirit feels dry and empty.  It's in those times that we need to turn to His Word.  We need to search the scriptures for the answer to our problem.  We can't rely solely on feelings.

The last couple of days we were in Hawaii it was very rainy.  But after the rain out comes the sun and with it rainbows.  We don't see rainbows often in California, but they are in abundance in Hawaii.  I am always awed when I see them.  They are a reminder of God's promise.  Others may use them for different purposes, but rainbows will always be God's reminder that He keeps His Word.

Just as we were taxiing down the runway on January 31st, I snapped shots of this beauty.  I'm thankful that even when I can't feel it, God is always faithful and His Word is true.

Standing on the Promises

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
 Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Do Good!

I read Proverbs chapter 3 yesterday.  Verse 27 says, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."  I've read this verse many times, but wanted to read what commentaries had to say.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Honor, reverence, and tribute, to civil magistrates, just payment of debts to creditors, and alms to the poor.  Do not forbid him to do well that can, and as we should not abstain from doing good ourselves, so neither should we forbid, hinder, or discourage others."

I especially like what Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments had to say, "The good here spoken of must be considered as being applicable to any thing that is good, either counsel, comfort, reproof, or the good things of the present life. And by the lords, or owners of it, we must understand those who have any kind of right to it, whether by the law of justice and equity, or by the great and sovereign law of love, which God hath written on the hearts of men by nature, and hath frequently and solemnly enjoined in his word. So that this place not only commands the payment of just debts, and the restitution of things taken from others by fraud or violence, or of things committed to our trust; but it obliges every man, according to his ability and opportunity, to pity and relieve such as are in real want or misery, and to do all the good in his power, temporal or spiritual, to his fellow-creatures."

It's easy to look at that verse and think of material goods - money, food, clothing - and think "I'm off the hook because I don't have any extra to give."  That may seem true, but there is always good that we can offer.  A kind word, a smile, an "I'm praying for you," all these cost nothing.

Galatians 6:10 says something similar, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says this:

This is the true rule about doing good. The opportunity to do good, imposes the obligation to do it. The simple rule is, that we are favored with the opportunity, and that we have the power. 

It is not that we are to do it when it is convenient; or when it will advance the interest of a party; or when it may contribute to our fame; the rule is, that we are to do it when we have the opportunity. 

No matter how often that occurs; no matter how many objects of benevolence are presented - the more the better; no matter how much self-denial it may cost us; no matter how little fame we may get by it; still, if we have the opportunity to do good, we are to do it, and should be thankful for the privilege. 

And it is to be done to all people. Not to our family only; not to our party; not to our neighbors; not to those of our own color; not to those who live in the same land with us, but to all mankind. 

If we can reach and benefit a man who lives on the other side of the globe, whom we have never seen, and shall never see in this world, still we are to do him good. 

Such is Christianity. And in this, as in all other respects, it differs from the narrow and selfish spirit of clanship which prevails all over the world.

In a world that is filled with hate and anger, I can't think of a better way to start 2024.  Do good!

Another Reason to Read the Bible

Happy New Year! I started a new Bible reading plan yesterday called "Daily in the Word 365."  It is described this way: "Daily in the Word 365 allows you to read the entire Bible through in one year, in 15-minute bite-sized readings. Daily readings include the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs."

 

My reading today included Genesis chapter 3 and Matthew chapter 4.  In both of these readings Satan tries to sew seeds of doubt.  It's quite a contrast:

Genesis 3:1 says, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"  He questioned Eve about what God said.  Unfortunately, Eve did not have the correct answer when she said, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."  God said they could not eat of the tree, but He never said they couldn't touch it.  At this point, Satan knew he had the advantage and went on, "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This twisting of God's words caused the downfall of humanity. 

In Matthew chapter 4, three times the tempter said to Jesus, "If thou be the Son of God..."  Each time Jesus replied with, "It is written..."  After three attempts, verse 11 tells us, "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."  The only way to get the devil to leave you alone is to quote God's words to him.

 

It makes a huge difference when you know what God says in His Word.  I have read the Bible from cover to cover many, many times, but I've never read those two passages at the same time.  There is always something new to discover.  If you haven't found a reading plan for 2024, do it!  You will never regret a single moment spent in His Word.

A Mellow Merry Christmas

 

We enjoyed our Christmas at home this year.  It's become more of a tradition.  The Fall is super busy, Les travels almost non-stop, so by the time Christmas rolls around we are ready to be at home.  Most of our gifts were on our Amazon wish lists, but they still felt like surprises!

 

 

Mine included shoes, a sweater, a coffee mug, a purse and a new coffee maker.  

 

Les got some new shoes, a jacket, a mug and a few other surprises.

 

This is a two sided "Food Decision Coin."  One side is Wife's choice and the other is Husband's choice.  If you're like us, you spend way too much time saying, "What do you want to eat?  I don't know, what do you want to eat?"  Hopefully this will help us with our decision making!

 

It was a beautiful, sunny day!